History of New Orleans Private Walking & Driving Tour

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

Founded by the French in 1718, the French Quarter is New Orleans’ oldest neighborhood. Created from centuries of influence from immigrants across the globe, the Vieux Carré tells ages-old stories of trade, food, drink, architecture, wars, and pirates.
From cast iron balconies and walled courtyards, to colorful Creole cottages and townhouses, the “Vieux Carré” is a unique collection of historic French, Spanish, Creole, and American architecture.


Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: 1850 House, New Orleans, Louisiana

The Upper and Lower Pontalba Buildings, which line the St. Ann and St. Peter Street sides of Jackson Square, were built in 1850 by the Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, daughter of Don Andres Almonester y Roxas, the Spanish colonial landowner associated with the neighboring Cabildo, St. Louis Cathedral, and Presbytere. They are believed to be the oldest apartment houses in the United States.
Inspired by the imposing Parisian architecture the Baroness favored, the distinctive rowhouses were intended to serve as both elegant residences and fine retail establishments. In 1921 the Pontalba family sold the Lower Pontalba Building to philanthropist William Ratcliff Irby who subsequently, in 1927, bequeathed it to the State Museum.
To illustrate the landmark's historical significance, the State Museum has recreated what one of the residences would have looked like during the Antebellum era when the Baroness Pontalba first opened her doors. Faithfully furnished with domestic goods, decorative arts and art of the period, the 1850 House depicts middle class family life during the most prosperous period in New Orleans' history.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: St Louis Cemetery No 2, New Orleans, Louisiana

Located three blocks from St Louis No. 1 on Claiborne Ave, St Louis No. 2 was concentrated in 1823 and is the resting place of notable New Orleanians jazz and blues musicians such as Danny Barker and Ernie K Doe.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Faubourg Marigny, New Orleans, Louisiana

Designated as an official Historic District, the Faubourg Marigny was one of the first "Suburbs" of New Orleans, it is filled with colorful shotgun homes, quaint Creole cottages, and more commercial and industrial buildings make up the urban landscape in the Marigny/Bywater. Ornamental wrought iron decorates many of the homes in this area.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Hurricane Katrina Memorial, New Orleans, Louisiana

Lower Ninth Ward
Discover the diversity of New Orleanian architecture in these neighborhoods. You’ll find everything from shotgun houses to cottages to California Craftsman-style bungalows, and the Ninth Ward will show you the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina on a community of houses. Learn about the inspiring rebuilding efforts of Habitat for Humanity, Musicians' Village, and other modern style homes in these areas including Brad Pitt’s famous Make it Right homes.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: New Orleans City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana

Serving as New Orleans' largest outdoor attraction since 1854, City Park is one of the oldest parks in the country. With its iconic oak trees and picturesque moss canopies, this 1,300 acre green space brings in millions of visitors each year. Cafe Du Monde, Sculpture Garden, NOMA, many other and activities within the park itself. With multiple themed gardens, biking and walking paths, live concerts, an amusement park and the World's largest grove of mature ancient live oak trees, City Park has something for everyone!

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana

Laid out in 1833. Annexed by New Orleans in 1852.
Grand mansions, St. Charles Streetcar, Magazine Street shopping, Famous universities, Audubon Park and Zoo
Uptown and the Garden District are known for the variety of historic homes, from colorful row houses to Classic Revival mansions and charming cottages shadowed by giant oak trees. These beautiful homes and gardens line many blocks of this neighborhood, making it most famous for its stunning architecture.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, New Orleans, Louisiana

Less visited than its counterparts, Cemetery No. 3 offers a piece of rest and quietude for those both above and below ground. Established in 1854, each tomb recounts a chapter in New Orleans' rich history"”from immigration patterns to floods and yellow fever outbreaks. Walk the rows to see marble and stone grave-sites that are themselves works of art.

Duration: 30 minutes